Combined pedal and foot rest for automobiles



Dec. 2 19-24.

J. R. SINGREY COMBINED PEDAL AND FOOT R ST FOR AUTOMOBILES Fi led Sent.23

I N V EN TOR Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

JOHN R. SINGREY, 01E RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

COMBINED PEDAL AND FOOT BEST FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed September 1, W23.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R SINGREY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia,have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Pedals and FootRests for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pedals and footrests and particularly tocombined control pedals and foot-rests adapted for use on automobiles,etc, for actuating the accelerator or other working parts of themachine.

One object of my invention is to provide an actuating pedal which alsoserves as a foot-rest to support the footof the operator and therebyrelieve the foot from fatigue caused by more or less constant engagementwith the pedal for a long period.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foot-rest pedal whichholds the foot from slipping and which admits of the ready andconvenient engagement of the foot therewith and its disengagementtherefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a foot rest pedaladapted for either male or female use, and which embodies an auxiliaryheel piece adapted for use when 30 a lady is driving the car and whichwill effectually protect the heel of the ladys shoe from abrasion andwear.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary heelpiece for the pedal which embodies a lining of soft material to protectthe ladys shoe.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in whichFigure 1 is a top plan view of the device as applied for use, foractuating the accelerator or other part of a motor car.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 4i-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 1, showing the application of theauxiliary heel rest.

Serial No. 660,593.

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal sec tion on line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the auxiliary heel rest.

The drawing shows the application of the inventionfor actuating theaccelerator or other controlling part of an automobile, although it isto be understood that the invention may be applied for any similarpurpose wherever a foot pedal is to be used.

In the said drawing, 1 designates the combined foot pedal and foot rest,comprising a foot plate 2, of any suitable form to support the soleportion of a shoe, and having at its rear a heel receiving socket 3.This socket 3 comprises a depressed bottom plate 4 provided at theforward portion thereof with a transverse should-er 5, against which thebreast of the heel of the shoe of the operator bears, to prevent thefoot from slipping forwardly upon the pedal. A flange 6 extends upwardlyfrom the bottom plate 4 around one side and the rear of the heel socketand terminates or is cut away at the opposite side of the said socket,leaving an opening or side passage 7. This opening or side passage 7 isdesigned to allow the heel of the operator to be moved laterally intoand out of the socket, for convenience in shifting the foot foroperation of the pedals, and allowing the foot to be shifted in and outof the socket 3" without the necessity of lifting the foot, theconvenience of which will be readily understood to those versed in theoperation of motor cars. It will be observed that the body of the footplate 2 is void of any upstanding flanges or projections at its sides,thus leaving, at least on the same side as the open side 7 of the socket3 an unobstructed surface, so that the foot of the user may be slidablyapplied and removed via such side of the pedal without the necessity oflifting the heel or any portion of the shoe in order to clear theobstruction.

The foot plate and foot rest 1 is pivotally mounted as hereinafterdescribed upon. the foot board 8 of the car and is designed forimparting motion to the controlling arm or lever 9. This arm or lever 9is provided for actuating a rock shaft 10, suitably coupled in bracketsto the accelerator or other part to be operated. An arm 11 extends fromthe rock shaft 10 beneath the base 11 of the instrument board of the carand is connected with said part 11 of the instrument board by a spring12, which spring serves to normally hold the rock shaft 10 and lever arm9 in retracted position and to maintain the other end of said lever armin engagement with the foot plate 2. The part 13 is suitably curved toengage the under side of the foot plate 2, which latter is provided witha curved bottom surface 14, forming a sliding pivotal connection betweensaid parts, whereby when the foot plate 1 is depressed, the shaft 10will be rocked in one direction and whereby when the foot plate istilted upwardly, all the pressure thereon related, the spring 12 willalso shift the foot pedal back to retracted position. i

The means shown for pivotally mounting the foot pedal to the foot board8 may be of any suitable type, that shown in the present instancecomprising lugs 15, depending from the bottom plate a and pivotallyconnected by a pin it) with a bracket 17 fastened to the foot board. Aspring 18 connects the foot pedal with the bracket 17 and exerts itscontractile energy to hold the plate. 2 in contact with the lever arm 9,as will be readily understood.

The device as thus constructed provides a foot pedal and foot rest forthe use of men and ladies wearing shoes with broad heels, the heelfitting within the socket and holding the foot positively in position,the sole of the shoe resting in the plate 2 whereby the foot is heldagainst casual dis placement and is at the same time supported so as torelieve the operator from the fatigue commonly caused when the foot isheld in a single position, for comparatively longperiods of time.

I also provide as part of the device an auxiliary heel receiving socket19, designed to fit within the socket 3. This socket 19 may be formed ofa single cast and comprises a bottom plate 20 having an upstandingflange 21. The plate 20 is designed to rest upon the plate 4 and isprovided with a forward edge portion 22 to bear against the shoulder l.The flange 21 is designed to rest against the flange 6 of the socket 3,and like said flange, extends around the sideand rear of the socket andcut away at the opposite side of said socket, leaving a lateral space oropening 23 to match or aline with the space or opening 7 at the side ofthe socket The auxiliary socket 19 is constructed, as stated, isespecially designed for the use of women drivers, wearing fine shoeswith small heels, and in order to protect the counter and heel of theshoe from abrasion or wear is provided with an integral lining 2 offelt, soft leather or other like material suitable for the purpose. Bythis means, a lady driving the car may wear the finest grade ofshoeswithout liability of abrading, scarring or otherwise injuring thecounter of the shoe as a result of manipulating the pedal 1. Theconstruction of the auxiliary heel socket admits of the same advantageas that arising from the construction. of the socket 8 in enabling theoperator to easily shift the foot into and out of position for movementback. and forth. between the pedal 1 and another pedal with out thenecessity of raising and lowering the foot in such movements. When theauxiliary socket 19 is not in use, it may be carried in one of thepockets of the antomobile, or in a receptacle especially provided forthe purpose.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing,the construction and mode of use of my combined pedal and foot rest willbe readily understood and it will be seen that the invention provides adevice of this character which will support the foot and relieve thefoot and leg from fatigue caused by holding the foot in the usual mannerunsupported for a greater or less lengthy period of time. Also thedevice provides a heel receiving socket of two different sizes, onedetachable and adapted for holding and protecting the heel of a ladysshoe from abrasion or wear, enabling the device to be used by :1. maleor female driver with the above and other obvious conveniences andadvantages.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to claim as new is:

l. A combined pedal and foot rest comprising a member shaped to form asupport for the foot, said member being provided with a heel receivingsocket, and an auxiliary heel receiving socket adapted to lit within anddetachable from the first named socket.

2. A combined pedal and foot rest comprising a member shaped to form asupport for the foot, said member being provided with a heel receivingsocket open at one side, and a detachable heel receiving socket adaptedto lit within the first named socket and having an open side to matchthe open side of the said first named socket.

E}. A combined pedal and foot rest comprising a member shaped to form asupport for the foot, said member having a heel receiving socket, and adetachable auxiliary heel, receiving socket adapted to lit within thefirst named heel receiving socket, said detachable heel receiving socketbeing'open at one side and provided with a heel protecting lining.

In testimony whereof I ntlix my signa ture.

JOHN R. SINGREY.

IOU

